Rurul Laois kids can't get into schools due to town spillovers claims councillor

A Laois councillor claims that rural children in her area cannot go to their local school because it it filled by children living up to "20km away".

Cllr Aisling Moran wants local children prioritised above a wider parish area, which she says happens outside Laois too.

"A couple of people have rung me that can't get places in their local rural school.  There's only maybe nine or ten kids living in the area now that didn't get places, living right beside the school.

"I know its up to the board of management. In this estate, they're going to be driving out of the estate beside the school, driving 10 or 15km away to another school. Some of these parents don't have a second car. They bought houses in this estate because they wanted a place in the school. Now they're told they can't get it," she said.

"I'm calling on the department to step up here," Cllr Moran said.

While not naming any schools, Cllr Moran who represents the Graiguecullen Portarlington Municipal District, gave an example.

"In a parish with two schools, one is urban, one is rural. There's children living in a rural housing estate, 20, 40 yards from the school and they are not getting a place. 

"The reason is that they are number five on the priority list. The first is if there is a sibling in the school, which I agree with. Second is if they had a sibling, even if they don't live in the area, and that sibling is now in secondary school. Third if a parent or guardian is a past pupil and lives in the parish. Fourth is if the parent is a member of staff, and the fifth priority is children living in the parish. 

She said that the urban school prioritises children living in the area "and a nearby town which is in a different county".

"It's really important in rural areas that local kids are prioritised when giving out school places. It's not just about school, it's about community spirit, it's about kids forming friendships, playing with the local soccer team or athletic club.

"The urban and rural area are arch nemeses in football, soccer, anything else. So the children from the urban area are not going to play on the rural clubs. You're collapsing rural football, soccer, athletics clubs," Cllr Moran said.

She tabled a motion to the January meeting of Laois County Council, to ask the Department of Education and Youth to "review the admission protocols in rural primary schools, so that children living in the local area will be considered as a priority when school places are being allocated".

Seconding her motion, Cllr Tommy Mulligan of the Portlaoise Municipal District who is a primary teacher, noted that school boards of management set the policies.

Read next: Education Minister in Laois to visit school developments

"For a rural school where you have kids coming from another area into the school, for a few hours and returning home, that has an effect on the dynamics even of the school, and on the community. 

"The other side is you have a child in the same estate, playing with his friends, yet can't go to school with them. He has to go to a school that could be 15 or 20 miles away, I don't think it's fair on that child and family either.

"I agree with Aisling's motion, I think boards of managements of rural schools should have different criteria when it comes to enrolment policy," Cllr Mulligan said.

Many other councillors at the meeting support the motion but suggest that Cllr Moran write to the board of management, rather than speaking to a principal or asking the Department of Education to intervene.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley said she sits on two school boards of management in Portlaoise.

Read next: 'Criminal waste' in Laois hot school meals

"The problem for us is Portlaoise is oversubscribed so people have no choice but to go out of the area. It was flagged up here a year or two ago, we have children living in Aghnaharna, beside the Holy Family primary schools,  being bussed out of town," she said. 

Cllr Moran said that the same issue is happening in other counties and this is why she wants the department to intervene.

It was suggested that other councillors sign a letter by Cllr Moran asking the particular school's board of management to review their admission policy.